Monitoring and sharing registry states

ABSTRACT

A method includes sending, by a computing device of a dispersed storage network (DSN), an inquiry to storage units of the DSN regarding status of a new vault in the DSN. The new vault is a logical storage container supported by the storage units, and the new vault is defined by vault parameters that include new vault identifier, new vault storage capabilities, access privileges, and authorized users. When a threshold number of storage units provide a status response of active and when a data access request for a set of encoded data slices is received, the computing device sends a set of access requests regarding the data access request to the storage units. When the threshold number of storage units do not provide the status response of active, the computing device facilitates activation of the new vault in at least the threshold number of storage units.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS

The present U.S. Utility Patent Application claims priority pursuant to35 U.S.C. § 120 as a continuation of U.S. Utility Application Ser. No.15/398,517, entitled “MONITORING AND SHARING REGISTRY STATES,” filedJan. 4, 2017, which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) toU.S. Provisional Application No. 62/314,792, entitled “SELECTING APROCESSING UNIT IN A DISPERSED STORAGE NETWORK,” filed Mar. 29, 2016,which are both hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entiretyand made part of the present U.S. Utility Patent Application for allpurposes.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to computer networks and moreparticularly to dispersing error encoded data.

Description of Related Art

Computing devices are known to communicate data, process data, and/orstore data. Such computing devices range from wireless smart phones,laptops, tablets, personal computers (PC), work stations, and video gamedevices, to data centers that support millions of web searches, stocktrades, or on-line purchases every day. In general, a computing deviceincludes a central processing unit (CPU), a memory system, userinput/output interfaces, peripheral device interfaces, and aninterconnecting bus structure.

As is further known, a computer may effectively extend its CPU by using“cloud computing” to perform one or more computing functions (e.g., aservice, an application, an algorithm, an arithmetic logic function,etc.) on behalf of the computer. Further, for large services,applications, and/or functions, cloud computing may be performed bymultiple cloud computing resources in a distributed manner to improvethe response time for completion of the service, application, and/orfunction. For example, Hadoop is an open source software framework thatsupports distributed applications enabling application execution bythousands of computers.

In addition to cloud computing, a computer may use “cloud storage” aspart of its memory system. As is known, cloud storage enables a user,via its computer, to store files, applications, etc. on an Internetstorage system. The Internet storage system may include a RAID(redundant array of independent disks) system and/or a dispersed storagesystem that uses an error correction scheme to encode data for storage.

As is also known, one or more internet storage systems may maintainlogical storage vaults where a logical storage vault is affiliated witha group of users and supported by a set of storage units. When creatingor updating logical storage vaults supported by a set of storage units,the set of storage units must receive the updated information prior toperforming storage operations in order to prevent failures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a dispersed ordistributed storage network (DSN) in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a computing corein accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an example of dispersed storageerror encoding of data in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a generic example of an errorencoding function in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a specific example of an errorencoding function in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an example of a slice name of anencoded data slice (EDS) in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an example of dispersed storageerror decoding of data in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a generic example of an errordecoding function in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a dispersedstorage network in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of enabling accessibilityof a set of storage units in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of an example of a set of storageunits affiliated with vaults in accordance with the present invention;and

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of enabling accessibilityof a set of storage units in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a dispersed, ordistributed, storage network (DSN) 10 that includes a plurality ofcomputing devices 12-16, a managing unit 18, an integrity processingunit 20, and a DSN memory 22. The components of the DSN 10 are coupledto a network 24, which may include one or more wireless and/or wirelined communication systems; one or more non-public intranet systemsand/or public internet systems; and/or one or more local area networks(LAN) and/or wide area networks (WAN).

The DSN memory 22 includes a plurality of storage units 36 that may belocated at geographically different sites (e.g., one in Chicago, one inMilwaukee, etc.), at a common site, or a combination thereof. Forexample, if the DSN memory 22 includes eight storage units 36, eachstorage unit is located at a different site. As another example, if theDSN memory 22 includes eight storage units 36, all eight storage unitsare located at the same site. As yet another example, if the DSN memory22 includes eight storage units 36, a first pair of storage units are ata first common site, a second pair of storage units are at a secondcommon site, a third pair of storage units are at a third common site,and a fourth pair of storage units are at a fourth common site. Notethat a DSN memory 22 may include more or less than eight storage units36. Further note that each storage unit 36 includes a computing core (asshown in FIG. 2, or components thereof) and a plurality of memorydevices for storing dispersed error encoded data.

Each of the computing devices 12-16, the managing unit 18, and theintegrity processing unit 20 include a computing core 26, which includesnetwork interfaces 30-33. Computing devices 12-16 may each be a portablecomputing device and/or a fixed computing device. A portable computingdevice may be a social networking device, a gaming device, a cell phone,a smart phone, a digital assistant, a digital music player, a digitalvideo player, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a tablet, a videogame controller, and/or any other portable device that includes acomputing core. A fixed computing device may be a computer (PC), acomputer server, a cable set-top box, a satellite receiver, a televisionset, a printer, a fax machine, home entertainment equipment, a videogame console, and/or any type of home or office computing equipment.Note that each of the managing unit 18 and the integrity processing unit20 may be separate computing devices, may be a common computing device,and/or may be integrated into one or more of the computing devices 12-16and/or into one or more of the storage units 36.

Each interface 30, 32, and 33 includes software and hardware to supportone or more communication links via the network 24 indirectly and/ordirectly. For example, interface 30 supports a communication link (e.g.,wired, wireless, direct, via a LAN, via the network 24, etc.) betweencomputing devices 14 and 16. As another example, interface 32 supportscommunication links (e.g., a wired connection, a wireless connection, aLAN connection, and/or any other type of connection to/from the network24) between computing devices 12 and 16 and the DSN memory 22. As yetanother example, interface 33 supports a communication link for each ofthe managing unit 18 and the integrity processing unit 20 to the network24.

Computing devices 12 and 16 include a dispersed storage (DS) clientmodule 34, which enables the computing device to dispersed storage errorencode and decode data (e.g., data 40) as subsequently described withreference to one or more of FIGS. 3-8. In this example embodiment,computing device 16 functions as a dispersed storage processing agentfor computing device 14. In this role, computing device 16 dispersedstorage error encodes and decodes data on behalf of computing device 14.With the use of dispersed storage error encoding and decoding, the DSN10 is tolerant of a significant number of storage unit failures (thenumber of failures is based on parameters of the dispersed storage errorencoding function) without loss of data and without the need for aredundant or backup copies of the data. Further, the DSN 10 stores datafor an indefinite period of time without data loss and in a securemanner (e.g., the system is very resistant to unauthorized attempts ataccessing the data).

In operation, the managing unit 18 performs DS management services. Forexample, the managing unit 18 establishes distributed data storageparameters (e.g., vault creation, distributed storage parameters,security parameters, billing information, user profile information,etc.) for computing devices 12-14 individually or as part of a group ofuser devices. As a specific example, the managing unit 18 coordinatescreation of a vault (e.g., a virtual memory block associated with aportion of an overall namespace of the DSN) within the DSN memory 22 fora user device, a group of devices, or for public access and establishesper vault dispersed storage (DS) error encoding parameters for a vault.The managing unit 18 facilitates storage of DS error encoding parametersfor each vault by updating registry information of the DSN 10, where theregistry information may be stored in the DSN memory 22, a computingdevice 12-16, the managing unit 18, and/or the integrity processing unit20.

The managing unit 18 creates and stores user profile information (e.g.,an access control list (ACL)) in local memory and/or within memory ofthe DSN memory 22. The user profile information includes authenticationinformation, permissions, and/or the security parameters. The securityparameters may include encryption/decryption scheme, one or moreencryption keys, key generation scheme, and/or data encoding/decodingscheme.

The managing unit 18 creates billing information for a particular user,a user group, a vault access, public vault access, etc. For instance,the managing unit 18 tracks the number of times a user accesses anon-public vault and/or public vaults, which can be used to generate aper-access billing information. In another instance, the managing unit18 tracks the amount of data stored and/or retrieved by a user deviceand/or a user group, which can be used to generate a per-data-amountbilling information.

As another example, the managing unit 18 performs network operations,network administration, and/or network maintenance. Network operationsincludes authenticating user data allocation requests (e.g., read and/orwrite requests), managing creation of vaults, establishingauthentication credentials for user devices, adding/deleting components(e.g., user devices, storage units, and/or computing devices with a DSclient module 34) to/from the DSN 10, and/or establishing authenticationcredentials for the storage units 36. Network administration includesmonitoring devices and/or units for failures, maintaining vaultinformation, determining device and/or unit activation status,determining device and/or unit loading, and/or determining any othersystem level operation that affects the performance level of the DSN 10.Network maintenance includes facilitating replacing, upgrading,repairing, and/or expanding a device and/or unit of the DSN 10.

The integrity processing unit 20 performs rebuilding of ‘bad’ or missingencoded data slices. At a high level, the integrity processing unit 20performs rebuilding by periodically attempting to retrieve/list encodeddata slices, and/or slice names of the encoded data slices, from the DSNmemory 22. For retrieved encoded slices, they are checked for errors dueto data corruption, outdated version, etc. If a slice includes an error,it is flagged as a ‘bad’ slice. For encoded data slices that were notreceived and/or not listed, they are flagged as missing slices. Badand/or missing slices are subsequently rebuilt using other retrievedencoded data slices that are deemed to be good slices to produce rebuiltslices. The rebuilt slices are stored in the DSN memory 22.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a computing core26 that includes a processing module 50, a memory controller 52, mainmemory 54, a video graphics processing unit 55, an input/output (IO)controller 56, a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) interface 58,an IO interface module 60, at least one IO device interface module 62, aread only memory (ROM) basic input output system (BIOS) 64, and one ormore memory interface modules. The one or more memory interfacemodule(s) includes one or more of a universal serial bus (USB) interfacemodule 66, a host bus adapter (HBA) interface module 68, a networkinterface module 70, a flash interface module 72, a hard drive interfacemodule 74, and a DSN interface module 76.

The DSN interface module 76 functions to mimic a conventional operatingsystem (OS) file system interface (e.g., network file system (NFS),flash file system (FFS), disk file system (DFS), file transfer protocol(FTP), web-based distributed authoring and versioning (WebDAV), etc.)and/or a block memory interface (e.g., small computer system interface(SCSI), internet small computer system interface (iSCSI), etc.). The DSNinterface module 76 and/or the network interface module 70 may functionas one or more of the interface 30-33 of FIG. 1. Note that the IO deviceinterface module 62 and/or the memory interface modules 66-76 may becollectively or individually referred to as IO ports.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an example of dispersed storageerror encoding of data. When a computing device 12 or 16 has data tostore it disperse storage error encodes the data in accordance with adispersed storage error encoding process based on dispersed storageerror encoding parameters. The dispersed storage error encodingparameters include an encoding function (e.g., information dispersalalgorithm, Reed-Solomon, Cauchy Reed-Solomon, systematic encoding,non-systematic encoding, on-line codes, etc.), a data segmentingprotocol (e.g., data segment size, fixed, variable, etc.), and per datasegment encoding values. The per data segment encoding values include atotal, or pillar width, number (T) of encoded data slices per encodingof a data segment (i.e., in a set of encoded data slices); a decodethreshold number (D) of encoded data slices of a set of encoded dataslices that are needed to recover the data segment; a read thresholdnumber (R) of encoded data slices to indicate a number of encoded dataslices per set to be read from storage for decoding of the data segment;and/or a write threshold number (W) to indicate a number of encoded dataslices per set that must be accurately stored before the encoded datasegment is deemed to have been properly stored. The dispersed storageerror encoding parameters may further include slicing information (e.g.,the number of encoded data slices that will be created for each datasegment) and/or slice security information (e.g., per encoded data sliceencryption, compression, integrity checksum, etc.).

In the present example, Cauchy Reed-Solomon has been selected as theencoding function (a generic example is shown in FIG. 4 and a specificexample is shown in FIG. 5); the data segmenting protocol is to dividethe data object into fixed sized data segments; and the per data segmentencoding values include: a pillar width of 5, a decode threshold of 3, aread threshold of 4, and a write threshold of 4. In accordance with thedata segmenting protocol, the computing device 12 or 16 divides the data(e.g., a file (e.g., text, video, audio, etc.), a data object, or otherdata arrangement) into a plurality of fixed sized data segments (e.g., 1through Y of a fixed size in range of Kilo-bytes to Tera-bytes or more).The number of data segments created is dependent of the size of the dataand the data segmenting protocol.

The computing device 12 or 16 then disperse storage error encodes a datasegment using the selected encoding function (e.g., Cauchy Reed-Solomon)to produce a set of encoded data slices. FIG. 4 illustrates a genericCauchy Reed-Solomon encoding function, which includes an encoding matrix(EM), a data matrix (DM), and a coded matrix (CM). The size of theencoding matrix (EM) is dependent on the pillar width number (T) and thedecode threshold number (D) of selected per data segment encodingvalues. To produce the data matrix (DM), the data segment is dividedinto a plurality of data blocks and the data blocks are arranged into Dnumber of rows with Z data blocks per row. Note that Z is a function ofthe number of data blocks created from the data segment and the decodethreshold number (D). The coded matrix is produced by matrix multiplyingthe data matrix by the encoding matrix.

FIG. 5 illustrates a specific example of Cauchy Reed-Solomon encodingwith a pillar number (T) of five and decode threshold number of three.In this example, a first data segment is divided into twelve data blocks(D1-D12). The coded matrix includes five rows of coded data blocks,where the first row of X11-X14 corresponds to a first encoded data slice(EDS 1_1), the second row of X21-X24 corresponds to a second encodeddata slice (EDS 2_1), the third row of X31-X34 corresponds to a thirdencoded data slice (EDS 3_1), the fourth row of X41-X44 corresponds to afourth encoded data slice (EDS 4_1), and the fifth row of X51-X54corresponds to a fifth encoded data slice (EDS 5_1). Note that thesecond number of the EDS designation corresponds to the data segmentnumber.

Returning to the discussion of FIG. 3, the computing device also createsa slice name (SN) for each encoded data slice (EDS) in the set ofencoded data slices. A typical format for a slice name 80 is shown inFIG. 6. As shown, the slice name (SN) 80 includes a pillar number of theencoded data slice (e.g., one of 1-T), a data segment number (e.g., oneof 1-Y), a vault identifier (ID), a data object identifier (ID), and mayfurther include revision level information of the encoded data slices.The slice name functions as, at least part of, a DSN address for theencoded data slice for storage and retrieval from the DSN memory 22.

As a result of encoding, the computing device 12 or 16 produces aplurality of sets of encoded data slices, which are provided with theirrespective slice names to the storage units for storage. As shown, thefirst set of encoded data slices includes EDS 1_1 through EDS 5_1 andthe first set of slice names includes SN 1_1 through SN 5_1 and the lastset of encoded data slices includes EDS 1_Y through EDS 5_Y and the lastset of slice names includes SN 1_Y through SN 5_Y.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an example of dispersed storageerror decoding of a data object that was dispersed storage error encodedand stored in the example of FIG. 4. In this example, the computingdevice 12 or 16 retrieves from the storage units at least the decodethreshold number of encoded data slices per data segment. As a specificexample, the computing device retrieves a read threshold number ofencoded data slices.

To recover a data segment from a decode threshold number of encoded dataslices, the computing device uses a decoding function as shown in FIG.8. As shown, the decoding function is essentially an inverse of theencoding function of FIG. 4. The coded matrix includes a decodethreshold number of rows (e.g., three in this example) and the decodingmatrix in an inversion of the encoding matrix that includes thecorresponding rows of the coded matrix. For example, if the coded matrixincludes rows 1, 2, and 4, the encoding matrix is reduced to rows 1, 2,and 4, and then inverted to produce the decoding matrix.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a dispersedstorage network (DSN) that includes the computing device 16 of FIG. 1,the network 24 of FIG. 1, and a set of storage units 1-n. The DSNfunctions to enable accessibility of the set of storage units.

In an example of operation of the enabling of the accessibility, whenaccessing the newly created virtual vault, the computing device 16obtains registry information from at least a threshold number of storageunits of the set of storage units, where the set of storage units areassociated with the newly created virtual vault. The threshold numberincludes at least a decode threshold number and as many as aninformation dispersal algorithm (ID a width number, where the computingdevice 16 dispersed storage error encodes a data segment to produce aset of the IDA width number of encoded data slices, and where at least adecode threshold number of encoded data slices are required to recoverthe data segment.

The registry information includes one or more of a vault identifier(ID), vault permissions, storage unit identifiers associated with thevault, a vault service-level agreement, etc. The obtaining includes oneor more of issuing registry information requests to the storage units,receiving the registry information from one or more of the storageunits, interpreting a query response, interpreting an error message,interpreting a previous access response, and receiving the registryinformation from at least a threshold number of storage units. Forexample, the computing device 16 receives, via the network 24, registryinformation 1-n corresponding to the storage units 1-n.

When less than a threshold number of storage units possess favorableregistry information (e.g., registry information that includesparameters associated with the newly created virtual vault), thecomputing device 16 facilitates obtaining, by remaining storage unitsnot in possession of the favorable registry information, the favorableregistry information. The facilitating includes one or more of sendingassociated registry information to each of the remaining storage unitsand instructing the remaining storage units to directly obtain updatedregistry information (e.g., from another storage unit, from a managingunit).

When at least the threshold number of storage units possess thefavorable registry information, the computing device 16 issues accessrequests to the storage units associated with the favorable registryinformation. For example, the computing device 16 generates accessrequest 1-T (e.g., T=threshold number), sends, via the network 24,access requests 1-T to the at least the threshold number of storageunits associated with a favorable registry information, where each ofthe storage units process the received access requests (e.g., recoveringan encoded data slice for a read request, storing an encoded data slicefor a write request).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of enabling accessibilityof a set of storage units. The method begins at step 82 where aprocessing module (e.g., of a computing device), when accessing a newlycreated virtual vault, obtains registry information from at least somestorage units of a set of storage units associated with the newlycreated virtual vault. The obtaining includes one or more of issuingregistry information request, receiving the registry information,interpreting a query response, interpreting an error message,interpreting a previous access response, and receiving the registryinformation from at least a threshold number of storage units.

When at least a threshold number of storage units possess favorableregistry information, the method branches to step 86 where theprocessing module issues access requests to a threshold number ofstorage units that possess the favorable registry information. Forexample, the processing module generates the access requests and sendsthe access requests to corresponding storage units associated with thefavorable registry information.

When less than a threshold number of storage units possess favorableregistry information, the method continues to step 84 where theprocessing module facilitates obtaining, by remaining storage units notin possession of the favorable registry information, the favorableregistry information. The facilitating includes one or more of sendingassociated registry information to each of the remaining storage unitsand instructing the remaining storage units to directly obtain updatedregistry information.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of an example of a set of storageunits affiliated with vaults. This example includes a set of storageunits 36 (SUs #1-7) of the DSN and vaults 1-3. A vault is a logicalstorage container supported by storage units of the DSN. Each vault isaffiliated with a set of users. As shown in this example, storage units1-5 support vault 1, storage units 1-7 support vault 2, and storageunits 1-6 are to support new vault 3. When receiving a data accessrequest for a set of encoded data slices stored in the set of storageunits, the data access request may identify a new vault in the DSNsupported by the set of storage units. For instance, a data accessrequest to storage units 1-6, may identify the new vault (vault 3) inthe DSN. The new vault is defined by vault parameters that include newvault identifier, new vault storage capabilities, access privileges, andauthorized users (i.e., registry information).

In certain operations, such as accessing a new vault, some a minimumthreshold number of storage units must have received registryinformation updates (e.g., new vault parameters). When a vault is firstcreated, or first accessed, a storage unit may not have yet receivedthose registry updates, and therefore may reject any access attempt asunknown or unauthorized. To prevent such failures, before attempting toaccess a newly created vault, a computing device may query a storageunit's knowledge of the vault beforehand. The inquiry may includesending a registry lookup message to the storage units. This messagerequires the storage units to send the computing device informationabout all the vaults that it supports. If the new vault is included, thecomputing device will determine the storage unit's status response to beactive. Alternatively, the inquiry may include sending a new vaultstatus message to the storage units. This message queries the storageunits specifically about the new vault. For example, when new vault 3 isidentified by the data access request, the computing device will inquirystorage units 1-6 as to their knowledge of vault 3 (e.g., whether theyhave received the new vault parameters) before sending the data accessrequest to the storage units.

If the storage unit has received the new vault parameters, the storageunit will respond with a status response of active. When a thresholdnumber of the storage units provide a status response of active, thecomputing device can then complete the operation such as sending a setof access requests regarding a data access request to the storage units.The threshold number of storage units is a number greater than or equalto a decode threshold number. The decode threshold number corresponds toa minimum number of encoded data slices of the set of encoded dataslices that is needed to recover a data segment. The decode thresholdnumber is less than a pillar number, and the pillar number correspondsto a total number of encoded data slices in the set of encoded dataslices.

For example, a data segment may be dispersed error encoded into a set of5 error encoded data slices where the decode threshold number is 3.Therefore, the pillar number is 5 and 3 (the decode threshold number)error encoded data slices are required to recreate the data segment. InFIG. 11, the new vault 3 is supported by storage units 1-6 and eachstorage unit may thus store one of the five encoded data slices of theset of encoded data slices. With the decode threshold number 3, threestorage units out of storage units 1-6 supporting the new vault 3 wouldneed to have received the new vault parameters before the data accessrequest can be completed.

When the threshold number of the storage units do not provide the statusresponse of active, the computing device can facilitate activation ofthe new vault in at least the threshold number of storage units. Forexample, if only two storage units out of the six storage unitssupporting vault 1 provide a status response of active, the computingdevice will facilitate activation of the new vault in at least one otherstorage unit to achieve the threshold number of 3. The computing devicemay facilitate activation of the new vault by sending the vaultparameters to the storage units that did not provide the status responseof active. In this case, the computing device would need to be inpossession of the vault parameters and must also be a trusted source.Therefore, when sending the vault parameters directly to the storageunits, the computing device will also send its signature.

The computing device may also facilitate activation of the new vault byissuing a vault parameter update command to the storage units that didnot provide the status response of active. This command forces thestorage unit to update its registry information to include the new vaultparameters. In this case, the storage unit will request the vaultparameters. The computing device may also facilitate activation of thenew vault by waiting for a designated time period, and then resendingthe inquiry to the storage units that did not provide the statusresponse of active. After waiting a period of time, the threshold numberof storage units may have received the vault parameters and the inquirywill be successful.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of enabling accessibilityof a set of storage units. The method begins with step 88 where acomputing device of the DSN receives a data access request for a set ofencoded data slices. The data access request identifies a new vault inthe DSN and the new vault is defined by vault parameters that includenew vault identifier, new vault storage capabilities, access privileges,and authorized users. The method continues with step 90 where thecomputing device sends an inquiry to the storage units regarding thestatus of the new vault. The inquiry may include sending a registrylookup message to the storage units. This message requires the storageunits to send the computing device information about all the vaults thatit supports. If the new vault is included, the computing device willdetermine the storage unit's status response to be active.Alternatively, the inquiry may include sending a new vault statusmessage to the storage units. This message queries the storage unitsspecifically about the new vault. If the storage unit has received thenew vault parameters, the storage unit will respond with a statusresponse of active.

The method continues with step 92 where the computing device determineswhether a threshold number of storage units have provided a statusresponse of active regarding the status of the new vault. The thresholdnumber of storage units is a number greater than or equal to a decodethreshold number. The decode threshold number corresponds to a minimumnumber of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices that isneeded to recover a data segment. The decode threshold number is lessthan a pillar number, and the pillar number corresponds to a totalnumber of encoded data slices in the set of encoded data slices.

When a threshold number of the storage units provide a status responseof active, the method continues to step 94 where the computing devicesends a set of access requests regarding the data access request to thestorage units. When a threshold number of the storage units do notprovide a status response of active, the method continues to step 96where the computing device facilitates activation of the new vault in atleast the threshold number of storage units. The computing device mayfacilitate activation of the new vault by sending the vault parametersto the storage units that did not provide the status response of active.In this case, the computing device would need to be in possession of thevault parameters and must also be a trusted source. Therefore, whensending the vault parameters directly to the storage units, thecomputing device will also send its signature.

The computing device may also facilitate activation of the new vault byissuing a vault parameter update command to the storage units that didnot provide the status response of active. This command forces thestorage unit to update its registry information to include the new vaultparameters. In this case, the storage unit will request the vaultparameters. The computing device may also facilitate activation of thenew vault by waiting for a designated time period, and then resendingthe inquiry to the storage units that did not provide the statusresponse of active. After waiting a period of time, the threshold numberof storage units may have received the vault parameters and the inquirywill be successful.

It is noted that terminologies as may be used herein such as bit stream,stream, signal sequence, etc. (or their equivalents) have been usedinterchangeably to describe digital information whose contentcorresponds to any of a number of desired types (e.g., data, video,speech, audio, etc. any of which may generally be referred to as‘data’).

As may be used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately”provides an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding termand/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted toleranceranges from less than one percent to fifty percent and corresponds to,but is not limited to, component values, integrated circuit processvariations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermalnoise. Such relativity between items ranges from a difference of a fewpercent to magnitude differences. As may also be used herein, theterm(s) “configured to”, “operably coupled to”, “coupled to”, and/or“coupling” includes direct coupling between items and/or indirectcoupling between items via an intervening item (e.g., an item includes,but is not limited to, a component, an element, a circuit, and/or amodule) where, for an example of indirect coupling, the intervening itemdoes not modify the information of a signal but may adjust its currentlevel, voltage level, and/or power level. As may further be used herein,inferred coupling (i.e., where one element is coupled to another elementby inference) includes direct and indirect coupling between two items inthe same manner as “coupled to”. As may even further be used herein, theterm “configured to”, “operable to”, “coupled to”, or “operably coupledto” indicates that an item includes one or more of power connections,input(s), output(s), etc., to perform, when activated, one or more itscorresponding functions and may further include inferred coupling to oneor more other items. As may still further be used herein, the term“associated with”, includes direct and/or indirect coupling of separateitems and/or one item being embedded within another item.

As may be used herein, the term “compares favorably”, indicates that acomparison between two or more items, signals, etc., provides a desiredrelationship. For example, when the desired relationship is that signal1 has a greater magnitude than signal 2, a favorable comparison may beachieved when the magnitude of signal 1 is greater than that of signal 2or when the magnitude of signal 2 is less than that of signal 1. As maybe used herein, the term “compares unfavorably”, indicates that acomparison between two or more items, signals, etc., fails to providethe desired relationship.

As may also be used herein, the terms “processing module”, “processingcircuit”, “processor”, and/or “processing unit” may be a singleprocessing device or a plurality of processing devices. Such aprocessing device may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digitalsignal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, fieldprogrammable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logiccircuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device thatmanipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on hard coding of thecircuitry and/or operational instructions. The processing module,module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit may be, or furtherinclude, memory and/or an integrated memory element, which may be asingle memory device, a plurality of memory devices, and/or embeddedcircuitry of another processing module, module, processing circuit,and/or processing unit. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory,random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, staticmemory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any devicethat stores digital information. Note that if the processing module,module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit includes more thanone processing device, the processing devices may be centrally located(e.g., directly coupled together via a wired and/or wireless busstructure) or may be distributedly located (e.g., cloud computing viaindirect coupling via a local area network and/or a wide area network).Further note that if the processing module, module, processing circuit,and/or processing unit implements one or more of its functions via astate machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logiccircuitry, the memory and/or memory element storing the correspondingoperational instructions may be embedded within, or external to, thecircuitry comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or logic circuitry. Still further note that, the memoryelement may store, and the processing module, module, processingcircuit, and/or processing unit executes, hard coded and/or operationalinstructions corresponding to at least some of the steps and/orfunctions illustrated in one or more of the Figures. Such a memorydevice or memory element can be included in an article of manufacture.

One or more embodiments have been described above with the aid of methodsteps illustrating the performance of specified functions andrelationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functionalbuilding blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined hereinfor convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences canbe defined so long as the specified functions and relationships areappropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences arethus within the scope and spirit of the claims. Further, the boundariesof these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined forconvenience of description. Alternate boundaries could be defined aslong as the certain significant functions are appropriately performed.Similarly, flow diagram blocks may also have been arbitrarily definedherein to illustrate certain significant functionality.

To the extent used, the flow diagram block boundaries and sequence couldhave been defined otherwise and still perform the certain significantfunctionality. Such alternate definitions of both functional buildingblocks and flow diagram blocks and sequences are thus within the scopeand spirit of the claims. One of average skill in the art will alsorecognize that the functional building blocks, and other illustrativeblocks, modules and components herein, can be implemented as illustratedor by discrete components, application specific integrated circuits,processors executing appropriate software and the like or anycombination thereof.

In addition, a flow diagram may include a “start” and/or “continue”indication. The “start” and “continue” indications reflect that thesteps presented can optionally be incorporated in or otherwise used inconjunction with other routines. In this context, “start” indicates thebeginning of the first step presented and may be preceded by otheractivities not specifically shown. Further, the “continue” indicationreflects that the steps presented may be performed multiple times and/ormay be succeeded by other activities not specifically shown. Further,while a flow diagram indicates a particular ordering of steps, otherorderings are likewise possible provided that the principles ofcausality are maintained.

The one or more embodiments are used herein to illustrate one or moreaspects, one or more features, one or more concepts, and/or one or moreexamples. A physical embodiment of an apparatus, an article ofmanufacture, a machine, and/or of a process may include one or more ofthe aspects, features, concepts, examples, etc. described with referenceto one or more of the embodiments discussed herein. Further, from figureto figure, the embodiments may incorporate the same or similarly namedfunctions, steps, modules, etc. that may use the same or differentreference numbers and, as such, the functions, steps, modules, etc. maybe the same or similar functions, steps, modules, etc. or differentones.

Unless specifically stated to the contra, signals to, from, and/orbetween elements in a figure of any of the figures presented herein maybe analog or digital, continuous time or discrete time, and single-endedor differential. For instance, if a signal path is shown as asingle-ended path, it also represents a differential signal path.Similarly, if a signal path is shown as a differential path, it alsorepresents a single-ended signal path. While one or more particulararchitectures are described herein, other architectures can likewise beimplemented that use one or more data buses not expressly shown, directconnectivity between elements, and/or indirect coupling between otherelements as recognized by one of average skill in the art.

The term “module” is used in the description of one or more of theembodiments. A module implements one or more functions via a device suchas a processor or other processing device or other hardware that mayinclude or operate in association with a memory that stores operationalinstructions. A module may operate independently and/or in conjunctionwith software and/or firmware. As also used herein, a module may containone or more sub-modules, each of which may be one or more modules.

As may further be used herein, a computer readable memory includes oneor more memory elements. A memory element may be a separate memorydevice, multiple memory devices, or a set of memory locations within amemory device. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, randomaccess memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory,dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device thatstores digital information. The memory device may be in a form a solidstate memory, a hard drive memory, cloud memory, thumb drive, servermemory, computing device memory, and/or other physical medium forstoring digital information.

While particular combinations of various functions and features of theone or more embodiments have been expressly described herein, othercombinations of these features and functions are likewise possible. Thepresent disclosure is not limited by the particular examples disclosedherein and expressly incorporates these other combinations.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for execution by a computing device of adispersed storage network (DSN), the method comprises: sending aninquiry to storage units of the DSN regarding status of a new vault inthe DSN, wherein the new vault is a logical storage container supportedby the storage units, and wherein the new vault is defined by vaultparameters that include new vault identifier, new vault storagecapabilities, access privileges, and authorized users; when a thresholdnumber of the storage units provide a status response of active and whena data access request for a set of encoded data slices is received,sending a set of access requests regarding the data access request tothe storage units; and when at least one of the storage units provides astatus response of active and the threshold number of the storage unitsdo not provide the status response of active, facilitating activation ofthe new vault in at least the threshold number of storage units, whereinthe threshold number is a number of storage units of the storage unitsgreater than or equal to a decode threshold number, wherein the decodethreshold number corresponds to a minimum number of encoded data slicesof the set of encoded data slices that is needed to recover a datasegment, and the decode threshold number is less than a pillar number,and wherein the pillar number corresponds to a total number of encodeddata slices in the set of encoded data slices.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the sending the inquiry comprises one of: sending a registrylookup message to the storage units; and sending a new vault statusmessage to the storage units.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thefacilitating activation of the new vault comprises: sending the vaultparameters to the storage units that did not provide the status responseof active.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the facilitating activationof the new vault comprises: issuing a vault parameter update command tothe storage units that did not provide the status response of active. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein the facilitating activation of the newvault comprises: waiting for a designated time period; and resending theinquiry to the storage units that did not provide the status response ofactive.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the status response of activecomprises possessing favorable registration information.
 7. The methodof claim 1, further comprising obtaining registry information from atleast one of the storage units.
 8. A computing device of a dispersedstorage network (DSN), the computing device comprises: an interface;memory; and a processing module operably coupled to the memory and theinterface, wherein the processing module is operable to: send an inquiryto storage units of the DSN regarding status of a new vault in the DSN,wherein the new vault is a logical storage container supported by thestorage units, and wherein the new vault is defined by vault parametersthat include new vault identifier, new vault storage capabilities,access privileges, and authorized users; when a threshold number of thestorage units provide a status response of active and when a data accessrequest for a set of encoded data slices is received, send a set ofaccess requests regarding the data access request to the storage units;and when a number of the storage units that provide a status response ofactive is at least one but less than the threshold number, facilitateactivation of the new vault in at least the threshold number of storageunits, wherein the threshold number is a number of storage units of thestorage units greater than or equal to a decode threshold number,wherein the decode threshold number corresponds to a minimum number ofencoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices that is needed torecover a data segment, and the decode threshold number is less than apillar number, and wherein the pillar number corresponds to a totalnumber of encoded data slices in the set of encoded data slices.
 9. Thecomputing device of claim 8, wherein the processing module is operableto send the inquiry by one of: sending a registry lookup message to thestorage units; and sending a new vault status message to the storageunits.
 10. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the processingmodule is operable to facilitate activation of the new vault by: sendingthe vault parameters to the storage units that did not provide thestatus response of active.
 11. The computing device of claim 8, whereinthe processing module is operable to facilitate activation of the newvault by: issuing a vault parameter update command to the storage unitsthat did not provide the status response of active.
 12. The computingdevice of claim 8, wherein the processing module is operable tofacilitate activation of the new vault by: waiting for a designated timeperiod; and resending the inquiry to the storage units that did notprovide the status response of active.
 13. The computing device of claim8, wherein the status response of active comprises possessing favorableregistration information.
 14. The computing device of claim 8, whereinthe processing module is operable to obtain registry information from atleast one of the storage units.
 15. A non-transitory computer readablememory comprises: a first memory that stores operational instructionsthat, when executed by a computing device of a dispersed storage network(DSN), causes the computing device to: send an inquiry to storage unitsof the DSN regarding status of a new vault in the DSN, wherein the newvault is a logical storage container supported by the storage units, andwherein the new vault is defined by vault parameters that include newvault identifier, new vault storage capabilities, access privileges, andauthorized users; when a threshold number of the storage units provide astatus response of active and when a data access request for a set ofencoded data slices is received, send a set of access requests regardingthe data access request to the storage units; and when the thresholdnumber of the storage units do not provide the status response ofactive, facilitate activation of the new vault in at least the thresholdnumber of storage units, wherein the threshold number comprises: anumber of storage units of the storage units greater than or equal to adecode threshold number, wherein the decode threshold number correspondsto a minimum number of encoded data slices of the set of encoded dataslices that is needed to recover a data segment, wherein the decodethreshold number is less than a pillar number, and wherein the pillarnumber corresponds to a total number of encoded data slices in the setof encoded data slices.
 16. The non-transitory computer readable memoryof claim 15, wherein the first memory further stores operationalinstructions that, when executed by the computing device, cause thecomputing device to send the inquiry by one of: sending a registrylookup message to the storage units; and sending a new vault statusmessage to the storage units.
 17. The non-transitory computer readablememory of claim 15, wherein the first memory further stores operationalinstructions that, when executed by the computing device, cause thecomputing device to facilitate activation of the new vault by: sendingthe vault parameters to the storage units that did not provide thestatus response of active.
 18. The non-transitory computer readablememory of claim 15, wherein the first memory further stores operationalinstructions that, when executed by the computing device, cause thecomputing device to facilitate activation of the new vault by: issuing avault parameter update command to the storage units that did not providethe status response of active.
 19. The non-transitory computer readablememory of claim 15, wherein the first memory further stores operationalinstructions that, when executed by the computing device, cause thecomputing device to facilitate activation of the new vault by: waitingfor a designated time period; and resending the inquiry to the storageunits that did not provide the status response of active.
 20. Thenon-transitory computer readable memory of claim 15, wherein the statusresponse of active comprises possessing favorable registrationinformation.